Many experts have long predicted the gradual decline of desktop personal computers in terms of demand. The advances in mobile computing have greatly affected the market as an increasing number of people prefer using laptops, smartphones and tablets. As more and more choices for mobile devices become available, things are not boding well for the personal computer market. In fact, according to a report by research firm International Data Corporation, PC shipments will likely be falling. The forecast is that it may continue falling and may be overtaken by tablet shipments for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2013.

There will be a total of 84.1 million units of tablet shipments expected for the last quarter of 2013. PC shipments are expected at 83.1 million units, a drop of around 10 percent for the rest of 2013. Consumers will still be looking to buy top-of-the-line tablets in the coming months, with cheaper models gradually taking over the market in the coming years. IDC also indicated that by 2015, annual tablet shipments will consistently overtake PC shipments.

It is quite interesting how tablets have gained market share in its relatively short stint in the consumer market. Considered as a niche market only 3 years ago, the tablet gained popularity with the release of the first iPad model in 2010. Since then, it has established an ever growing market that has seen the emergence of other market players that gave consumers and ever-widening field of tablet choices.

The PC, on the other hand, has stagnated in terms of advances and development. It had nothing new or exciting to offer aside from new operating systems and software programs. The fact that tablets seem to offer a comparable performance to standard desktop computers but with added mobility did not help the PC market at all. Although the PC is still as valuable as an office tool, it will only be a matter of time before laptops will be replacing it as a primary office workstation. By the way things are moving, the PC as it is now may be on the way to becoming obsolete. It may be unthinkable a few years back. But the way the market trends are moving, the future does not bode well for the struggling desktop PC.Gadgets – GuideTo.Com